XML version dated February 14, 2024. © Douglas R. Parks, Indiana University.

39

Hidatsa and Arikara Relations

Alfred Morsette

wetatunaaʾiitíštA.
Now I am going to tell it.
wetatuunaakiiwaatíštA wiitatshaánuʾ tinaraanoótA sáhniš
I am going to tell about them Hidatsas, these Arikaras
niinapaawaá- kAhu niikohnaraačítA niikuNUsaáhnu.
the ones always saying things about them whatever the reason is their doing that.

íhUx tatíʾ– sáhniš – na – íhUx neetíʾ– wiitatshaánuʾ.
Half I am– Arikara – and – half I am– Hidatsa.
noowitikuRAxáhAt wiitatshaánuʾ NItkutaʾiwaawanú atsú
Then I grew up Hidatsas my going around among them, but
sáhniš NItkutaʾiwanú.
Arikaras my going among them.
neetiriiʾúx sáhniš NItkuwaaWIhtikú.
I do know how Arikara for me to talk.
nikuwešitikuRAxAhát atí- kaʾ na
They (du) were the ones who reared me my grandmother and
atípaʾ kuúNUx kananiiwičeésU.
my grandfather Short Bear.

wah tinaraanoótA – wiitatshaánuʾ – tiwehnaaRAsaʾiitIšá nii
Now these – Hidatsas – when they came close by there
čiWAhaahwaarúxtiʾ niiwehnunaníWIs Ahnooteh- noxtaánaʾ
Devil's Lake where they appeared then they just must have come
niitiNAhuukaahaanúhAt niihéʾ niineetUhkatákUx.
where this river valley passes there Washburn.
huukaawiraátA nikuwituuxitUhčitákUx.
East that is where the village was on top (a bluff).
tiwaawičeéʾIs niinoonitsteéhAt tswaarúxtiʾ.
It is a high hill where it borders the water Missouri River.
noowitiʾaáhkA iinatskatAhkáʾU iiNAsakUhtáWI.
There was a high bank on the other side of the water where the sun strikes it.
nawáh witiitUhkoosákUx.
Now the village was on top.

natsú – sáhniš – xuúhuniʾ wituuxitUhnuukaatákUx anuunatskatAhkáʾU.
But – Arikaras – close the village was by the bank over on the other side of the water.
nuukuwituuxitunaáhkUx sáhniš nuuneesawatuúNU tininaataraʾó.
The village was over there Arikara Fort Clark the one they tell about.

noowitiinaNAhkaawiraaniwiítIt – wiitatshaánuʾ – wenooNAhWIs-
Then they attacked them in it – the Hidatsas – when they
waʾá psíʾaʾ.
arrived to fight Assiniboines.
noowitiiNAhnoosaNAxkároʾ.
Then they were made frantic.
noowitiiNAhnitakaáwaahAt.
Then they chased them off (the hill).
kuNAhúx súxtIt AhnoowiwitiiNAh- weešíNIt
Old men, old women then they just threw themselves over
AhnaʾaahkaʾiwičeésU číkuʾ niinoonehkuraʾaáNA.
where the high bank was wherever they got hurt.

wah áxkUx wiiteešútš nootIhaʾuúkUt.
Now one young man then he went in- to the water.
tehnuxčiiNIhuúʾU.
The water must have been deep.

číkuʾ tehnuutunaánuʾ – awiriituukaríkAt.
It must have been some time – midsummer.
– nootiičitaWIhaʾuúkUt niitinaraanoótA sáhniš.
– Then he went riding into the water here where they lived Arikaras.

nootiwísAt akanaanataáʾuʾ niinuuxakaáWI niinakaruxtoswaáWI.
Then he arrived there the earth lodge where the lodge was where the sacred bundles were.
wehneštAhuNAhwiiruutikú witiwaakaáhuʾ he waaxubaá waaxubaá.
While he was laying his hands all over it he was saying: "Hey, holy, holy."
nikuwitiwaakaáhuʾ.
That is what he was saying.

tinaraanoótA – sáhniš – noowitiwáčiʾ tičé tAxuhnaana- ʾíhkuʾ niinawaákAhu.
These – Arikara – then they said: "I wonder what he means what he is saying?"

áxkUx – wiiteešútš tehnuxwákoʾ – wiitatshaánuʾ.
One – young man he must have spoken it – Hidatsa.
čiraátoʾ šuhnaʾít tičé nuhnaanaʾíhkuʾ.
"Ask him, what does he mean?"

noowitíʾAt – tinaaríčI – wiiteešútš AhnawakáʾU wiitatshaánuʾ.
Then he went – this – young man the one who spoke it Hidatsa.
tičé NAxuhnaanaʾíhkuʾ.
"What do you mean?
tihwískaʾ aatoohnaah- neésš.
They want 'that we know.'"

aa tatiínaʾ.
"Ah, I have come.
– tátskaʾ číkuʾ aaxkuhnaapiíʾa.
– I want that you help us.
paatúh wetikuraNAhkaawiraaniwiítIt niiNAhnaNAhnaanoótA wiitatshaánuʾ.
Enemy they have attacked us in it where we live Hidatsas.
wetiiNAhnoosanáxtoʾ.
They have been made frantic.
wetiiNAhnuuwaawaʾá súxtIt kuNAhúx.
They are all hurt old women, old men.
wewitinakuriwaraaʾaáNA a noowititUtwee- šíNIt iinaʾaahkáWI.
One not caring about himself and then he throws him- self over where the cliff is.
wetiiNAhnoosanáxtoʾ wiitatshaánuʾ psíʾaʾ.
They were made frantic by them the Hidatsas Assiniboines."

wah tinaraanoótA sáhniš hee číkuʾ šiNIhkuutaakIš- tatatoóhAt.
Now these Arikaras: "Hey, we should help them.
wetataraaNAsaweekáʾIt.
Now we are all mingling."
pakúhtuʾ tehnataraa- NAsaʾiiruutikUxítIt –
Long ago we must have begun to split into different groups –
weneenaakAhtakuraaNUxaánu – wiitatshaánuʾ suúnaaxuʾ.
when they began to inter- marry with them – the Hidatsas young women.
pakúhtuʾ číkuʾ wekutehnaraatawéʾ.
Long ago that must have happened.

nootuhnaanoorúhkUt sáhniš wiiteešútš kanaahniNIštaawiʾiiruhkoóčI.
Then they charged into the water Arikaras the young men ones who were dauntless.
wituNAhwísAt niiwehnaRAxUhuu- naánu.
They arrived to fight where the battle was.
tuuháʾ ananaaWIhíniʾ nooWIšitiiNAhnitakaaruuwaáhAt psíʾaʾ.
There from the rear then they chased them down (the bank) all over Assiniboines.
wenaraanukakoókUt noowitiinuuwáʾAx psíʾaʾ.
When they got to the bottom then they ran away Assiniboines.
anuú wešohniiNAhnátA wehnihkawootikú na pítkUx
There when they drove them when they were killing them and two
šiNAhkuwaʾuuneéRIt nooWIšitihkoótIt.
when they (du) stopped, then they killed them (du).
hawá – áxkUx – witiʾuuneéRit – xaawaarúxtiʾ – weNAhkuunaweétA.
Also – one – he stopped – (his) horse – when his tired.
hawá WIšitihkoótIt.
Also they killed him.
ka nuhnaataRAhtščiraʾá wehniináxI.
It was full force when they ran.

wah áxkUx kuwituuxAxaáʾA čeekarínoʾ.
Now one he was named Fears The Fire.
wiítA aahwewitiraaníhtš.
A man he was somewhat older.
wituuxičitaWIhú kaNAsaaká.
He always used to ride a white belly.
witikatiíʾIt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
It was black the horse.
witakaNAhkaskatákUx – xaakaatít.
It had a white spot on its stomach – the black horse.
a – čiišaah- tawéʾ.
And – here it was among them.
tákuʾ wešiNAhkukootíkA psíʾaʾ noowi- taáNAt.
When he killed someone an Assiniboine then he went over there.
noowitiraahúnoʾ.
Then he scalped him.
nikuwewituutaánuʾ wehnariteehAxátA Ahnaahnanaahunoóku.
That's what he was doing as he did it one time after another his scalping them.

wah niiweneetúhkUx NAhtsuutaaká niiháʾ číkuʾ nii- kohniíhiʾ
Now where the village is White Shield there wherever it was
noowitiraáNAt hunaaníniʾ.
then they went on foot.
noowitiwaákoʾ Axtóh noonuxtaáNAt.
Then he said: "Surely let them go!
wešikaakAsiinaNAhuuNIšáwihAt.
We have certainly killed many of them!"

wewitiihíʾ hiíš.
Now it was late afternoon.
nooteeRAhkaaʾiišwáʾ.
Then they came back home.
wehnaraána – wiitatshaánuʾ – noowitiitakAxaahUxítIt.
When they came – the Hidatsas – then they began to call them (ie the Arikaras).
a či weešehčiraahAhkároʾ wiitatshaánuʾ.
And here they had boiled meat the Hidatsas!
nootiitakúna sáhniš.
Then they invited them Arikaras.
nuunaákUx wiiteešútš wehnawakáʾU wiitatshaánuʾ wewitunaaʾiíwat
That young man his speaking it Hidatsa then he told everything
niinehkuwačíʾA wiitatshaánuʾ.
what they said the Hidatsas.

noowitiwaákoʾ áxkUx wehnaáʾa wiítA tičé noʾ aninaranaáhNA.
Then he said one as he was coming man: "What is it what that one has?
ka náʾIt tsástš.
Is it meat?"

nooWIšitihnaʾít tičé náʾIt aniNAxinanáʾa.
So they asked him: "What are they what you are bringing?"

noowitiwaákoʾ tíʾIt pAxIskuúxuʾ.
Then he said: "They are scalps.
saxtš šiNAxku- kootíkA nootatiraahúnoʾ.
As soo n as you killed him, then I scalped him."

noowitiwaákoʾ tičé nuhnaánuʾ.
Then he asked: "How many are there?"

noowitiwaákoʾ aráh kaakatuhneesiíšuʾ.
Then he said: "Say, I do not know."

noowitihčitawihUxítIt.
Then they began to count.
noo nikuwituhnaánuʾ NAsawíʾuʾ na áxkUx wehnariwiíkUx pAxIskuúxuʾ.
Then that is what they numbered thirty-one the ones piled up scalps.
wah íhUx wešitaatAhnaničíšAt – wiitatshaánuʾ.
"Now half we saved them (for them) – the Hidatsas.
na – íhUx itaraah- náNAt.
And – half we will take them."
wah nikuwituutAxítIt.
Now that is what happened.

wehnihwaawáʾA noowitihkaniwaáhAs.
When they ate then they consumed it all.
nawáh noowi- tiiNAhnaawaʾú.
Now then they (Hidatsas) gave them things.
wetAxkuraahnaničíšAt niiwe- NAxkunuhnaakaáNA weNAxkuunaakiiWIsú.
"You have saved us what you did for us when you took our part.
wah tiweneéRIt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
Now here it stands a horse.
šikooxIsiráxAt.
You will lead it."
wah nikunoowitiíta.
Now then they did that.

noowitiraanoókUt.
Then they got into the water.
noowitiraanuukatawóʾ nii- ʾAhnuxtaanoótA anuuneesawatuúNU
Then they crossed it where they lived in the area of Fort Clark
tišinihnunaaniita- WIhú.
this land they always tell about.
sáhniš nikuwituuxitunaáhkUx.
The Arikaras that is where their village was.

na wiitatshaánuʾ tiíNI wewitinohnuutaáhu
And Hidatsas today now when they become inflated
nooWIšitiiNIšiiwaatIhú naáNIt.
then they talk about them really.

na anináʾU wiítA nooWIšitihnehkUxítIt waaxubaá AhnuxkUxihWIsátA.
And that one man then they began calling him "Holy" after he had arrived there running.
kuwitiraaxaáʾA kunaáʾuʾ naawaaRUxtiíʾuʾ wiitatshaahníniʾ.
Its meaning is 'medicine,' 'holy way,' in Hidatsa.
wah niiháʾ nikUšitiku- nuuNUxtaaʾít.
Now there that is what they told me.

wah niihéʾ niineetUhpakútkUx wenaRAhčituuʾaáNA táWIt
Now right there where the old village was after they had got together three
aninuutunaanuúʾA wiitatshaánuʾ káNIt na sáhniš nikunoowitsuusaahnuuxuúkuʾ.
at that time Hidatsas, Mandans, and Arikaras, then that is what they used to do.
sanánat weNAhkuRA- soókUt – nuunakatAhkáʾU – nii
The Sioux when they reached the water – on that other side – where
sáhniš AhnuuxítAt wiitatshaánuʾ nookanawitiRAsawéʾ.
Arikaras the camp was, Hidatsas then they were not among them.
noowitee- raníhIt káNIt weNAhkuRAsawé.
Then they were the only ones Mandans their being among them.
wiitatshaánuʾ noowiteenikUxaʾuúkUt.
The Hidatsas then they ran into the water.
noowitiraanuukatáʾAt anuunatskatAhkáʾU.
Then they crossed it there on the other side of the water.
noowiteeRAhkatawaahUxítIt.
Then they began to come up.
nikuwitištaaʾiitawihUxuúkuʾ.
That is what they used to tell.

AhnoxtAhkaawaahUxúku – sáhniš wenehkuRAhkaahú –
When they used to dance – Arikaras when they were dancing –
AxtáwiʾIš tsu wiitatshaánuʾ kanawitiiNIštaaNUhuniwá.
Touch The Foot, but the Hidatsas their actions were bad.
noowiteeraánaʾ niineesuuxaakaratáWI – wenehkuhnaačiríkUx –
Then they came where the smokehole was – where they would look down –
wenehkuRAhkaáhu nehkuhnaaʾeerikú na
where they were dancing when they would be seeing them and
nooWIšiteenuhkaráʾ nakuuhUhtaahurúxU.
then they threw it down the bull boat.
noowitiskukaʾuúkUt niitiʾAhna- káʾIt.
Then it fell on the fire here where the fire was.
hawá noowitiinatAhnanookUxítIt.
Also then they began to throw feces down.
noowi- tiiNAhnikaruuwátAt.
Then they scattered them.
nikuwitištaaNUhkáʾIt wiitatshaánuʾ.
Those were their habits the Hidatsas.

tiíNI wenihWIskáʾA aataraahniiʾuúxU naakukaáhu skaná
Nowadays when they want 'that we know how' to dance, alone
nikuʾaatoohpaaNIšeéRA na nikUšitiiNIšiiwaawásuʾ.
'that I have a good voice,' and they were the ones who protected them.

wah tiwenaraakoxkhaanaáNA tiwenuxtAxUhúhkUx uxčés
Now when there became peace after this warfare that was Custer
wenaRAxUhuunaweétA atípAt xunáNIš noowiteeraánaʾ.
when the warfare ended government soldiers then they came.
noowitiwáčiʾ naáNIt tAxiwáhNIš niiNAxwaákA weNAxWIskáʾA
Then they said: "Really you were truthful what you said when you wanted
atípAt aasiinawasčituúʾU NIsIhkupAxčituúʾU.
the government that we work together, that we have our heads together.
tsu tinaraanoótA– wiitatshaánuʾ– číkuʾ noowekaneeniiNIštatatáʾuuhAt.
But these– Hidatsas– they did not help him at all.
číkuʾ noowekaakiRAsaʾiítIt xunáNIš.
They did not join them soldiers.
na káNIt.
And the Mandans.

wetátskaʾ NAhkuraanátA nuu huukaawiraátA.
"Now I want it for them to go there east.
noo číkuʾ kooxaahnunuuwá niiNAhunaanawaáhAt iinačiiNIhuúNU.
Then they can go around there somewhere where the land stretches where the water is deep (ie ocean).
wekaakikoowiteéRAt na tatuuNUxtaaniwóʾ wiináxtš nakuku-
They refused me, and I was beseeching him boys for him
raanúhA nakuRAsawé xunáNIš.
to give me to be enlisted with them soldiers.
na káNIt.
And Mandans."

na noowitiwaákoʾ kawikaáʾ nikutatoonaaniwóʾ kaakátskaʾ – nikunakuútA.
And then he said Comes Last: "I am asking that of you: I do not want – for it to be thus.
suúnaaxuʾ – wiiteešútš wetihnaananuuʾiwaáhAt swiitatshaánuʾ.
Young women, – young men they are now intermarried (among us) the Hidatsa women.
na sáhniš weneenaakIhtakuraawaáʾ wiitatsAhaánuʾ.
And Arikara (women) they are married to them Hidatsa (men).
na hawá kaNIt nikuwenuúʾUt.
And also Mandans it is that way.
na noowetatuhnaahnanéš.
And then we are intermixed.
kaakátskaʾ nikuNAxkuutaáNA.
I do not want for you to do that."

wah táWIt nikuwitoxWIswáʾ atípAt wenaWIskáʾA
Now three (times) that was the one who came President his wanting it
wiitatshaánuʾ axkuraanúhA.
Hidatsas 'that you give them to me.'
wah kawikaáʾ – nootihwáčiʾ sákaaʾA naaríčI – kanawituhnaawiíʾAt.
Now Comes Last – they said Standing Star – he did not consent.
wah táWIt nikuwituhnaanaánuʾ AhnoxWIswaʾá.
Now three that was the number of times his coming here.

nootiwáčiʾ nawáh atípAt neešaánuʾ wetAh- nanikúxtA.
Then they said: "Now the President the chiefs I am going to keep them.
číkuʾ iinakuWIskáʾA a neešaánuʾ wetAx- kuhnaaʾiitáWI.
Whatever you want, and the chief you will tell me.
na nikunoošitatiroohúnoʾ neešaánuʾ weNAxiniinaákUx wenaraakiRAxaáhNA.
And then he and I will plan that chief the one you have the one who is the leader.

wah – tiihéʾ – kooxeéka piirataápoʾIš.
"Now – right her – there will be a dwelling student.
kooxiraaNIskuNAhnuúpoʾ Fort Stevenson.
They will go to school Fort Stevenson."
waakanítkAt nikutišwačeehUxuúkuʾ.
On The Stone Mound that is what they used to call it.
nikuwituxtaa- núʾAt xunáNIš.
That is where they used to live (ie be garrisoned) soldiers.
na wenaRAhčiwátAt na niiháʾ nikunootiraaNIskuNAhnuupooxítIt.
And after they left, and there then that is where they began to go to school.

tiwenatiniNIštaákUx – atíʾAx – nikutehnuuxIskUh- nuupóʾ
This one who was ours – our father – that is where he went to school
wiiteešútš – wehnaʾaánu – wenaRAsáhAt na
a young man – when he was becoming, – when he grew up, and
tišinihtaruuwaʾó hoowáʾAš.
when they used to talk about him Good Voice.
číkuʾ ku- kaakuuxAxaáʾA.
He did not have any (other) name.
nooteeraaníhIt hoowáʾAš šinih- néhku.
It was the only way Good Voice their calling him.
sananaapIhíniʾ kuwitiraaxaáʾA nuhpaNIšeéRA.
In Sioux it has the meaning 'good voice.'
nuhpaNIšeéRA nikuWIšitihnaʾíhkuʾ.
'Good voice' that is what they mean.
neeniiwakaʾá wiitatshaánuʾ.
He was able to speak it Hidatsa.
hawá sáhniš wituxwákoʾ.
Also Arikara he spoke it.

číkuʾ šikaakatuxwaaWIhtít anináʾU wiítA Ahnuxwaawanú.
He and I never did talk at all that man when he used to go around.
neetsuuxeerikUxuúkuʾ hoowáʾAš – niiháʾ – wiitatshaáhkAt.
I used to see him Good Voice – there – in Elbowoods.
nootiwáčiʾ – wiitatshaáhkAt wenuhnaanaáNU –
They said – 'among the Hidatsas' its being the reason –
wenaRAhčituúʾU wiitatshaánuʾ – weneenunuunakaáWI
when they were together the Hidatsas – when they had their houses
neešaáhkAt – wenaraakaaros- waáWI – čituúʾuʾ hunaánuʾ
at the agency – where (legal) matters were (housed – all the land
– niinoonakuuraáʾU cikú naku- raaNAhuupó na
– different matters their taking it into it (the agency) and
šitiniisiinawáʾ na šitiniíta.
they worked it out for him, and they did it for him.

iinuuxitúhkUx tatuxwanúʾ.
Where the village was I went around.
tatuxWIswooxuúkuʾ niiháʾ wiitatshaáhkAt.
I used to go there there Elbowoods.
hawá nootiwáčiʾ hiswíkAt.
Also then they said (ie called it) 'at the bend.'
hiswíkAt nikutišwačeehUxuúkuʾ.
Elbowoods that is what they used to say.
wah niiháʾ– nikutatsuxteswaáwiš – natuxwaawanú
Now there– that is where I understood things – when I went around
wiináxtš wenikuRAxAhatú.
a boy when I was growing up.

wah aniwenaraatoókut atípAt wenawaákA taaniku- wetAxiniitáxtA.
Now at that time President when he said: "This is what is going to be.
wešitaraakaanunaaNUhúxtA niikohniiraačíštA
They are going to ration food to you however long the time is going to be
štáwe – štoswaakaroóku – naakaanuúnuʾ.
if you live, – as long as you are getting them – goods.
na niiNAxkuWIskáʾA kooxeeraahnaawaʾuúhuʾ.
And whatever you want you will be given them.
wah wetaraah- naaNUhíštA xaawaarúxtiʾ šinakukookuraáhNA na
Now they are going to give you horses for them (du) to drive, or
aaxaahWIskáʾA taNAhaataaká šitohkookurá iiNAxiniinakaáWI
if you should desire it cows (ie oxen) they will drive yours where your house is
číkuʾ nakUhunaanáʾU číkuʾ niinaakunuunaa- naaríčI WAhúx na ničiíšuʾ.
to plant a garden where you have planted a garden squash and corn."

na nakutawé witiraanánoʾ pákUs.
And sometimes one planted them oats.
tanuunaanáʾA xaawaarúxtiʾ NIhkuwáʾA psíkAt.
He had it planted horses for them to eat it in the winter.

wah – wituxtaaNIhuúʾU – AhniišAhnaawoóhA xaawaarúxtiʾ.
Now – there were many (people) – their having given them to them horses.
hawá haaNUtkákatkUx witiišaáku witinehkuraawoóhu
Also a mower it was given to them their giving them to each other
wewi- tinehkiíhu.
one giving it to another.
nooNAhiínaʾ naakaníkUx čeésuʾ nootiitiiwísAt.
Farther on his having a home too so it was his turn.
hawá haakIšwíʾaʾ hawá hunaahkataruuwanúx weniiNAhnaawoóhA ka ništiiwáʾux.
Also a rake, also a plow when they gave them to them they did not know them.
nootiitAh- naaʾiitawihUxítIt.
Then he began to tell (ie teach) them.
noočinaawaawaníkUx šitihnehkUxuúkuʾ áxkUx saNIštaaká.
The"hurrier"(ie government farmer) they used to call him one white man.
na witiičitaWIhuuwiraaʾá NAhkuutAh- naaʾiitawaaWIhú – sáhniš
And he rode about on horseback for him to tell them things – Arikaras
– číkuʾ niinakUsiinawá nakUhunaahka- tariwó na nakUhaaNUtkakAtkú.
– for them to work for one to be plowing and to be cutting hay.
na nakUhaanuNAsačiwaapiinú wenaakunuhnaaNUhnoósI xaawaarúxtiʾ
And to be raking up hay for him to have a stack of hay the horses
NIhkuwáʾA psíkAt.
for them to eat it in the winter.
wah taanikutsuxtaaʾúʾ.
Now this is the way it was.

wah wiitatshaáhkAt wehnawaákA – atípAt – neešaánuʾ
Now at Elbowoods when he said – the President – "Chiefs,
tičé kunuutáxtA aaxaWIskáʾA – tiiháʾ– nooʾaatee- wanú
what is going to be whether you desire – here– if you want to be there,
– na aaxaWIskáʾA nuu – kuNAxkoótA skaweéraaʾuʾ
– or whether you want there – for you to go somewhere west?"

nootiwáčiʾ sáhniš taakunoxtiraakunuuwá.
Then they said the Arikaras: "We will remain here.
tinaraanoótA wiitatshaánuʾ kukooxiraáNAt skaweéraaʾuʾ.
These Hidatsas they can go there west."

na káNIt noowitiwáčiʾ tatinihnunaanaapiRIhuúʾU anuunatskatAhkáʾU.
And Mandans then they said: "It is my favorite land there on the other side of the river.
tsu nikukoxtiwaawanúʾ anuunakatAhkáʾU.
And that is where I will go around there on the other side."

nikunoowitsá – nootiinakAhkawaakarookUxítIt.
That is what they did: – then they began to build houses.
– wiitatshaánuʾ wehnaRAhwiisátA xuúhuniʾ wiitatshaáhkAt nikuwituxtaanúʾAt.
– The Hidatsas when they moved close Elbowoods they lived there.
ništaatAharuhkoóčI – noowitiinaakawaatoosítIt – nehkuraa-
Their teasing them – then they began to be lonesome – for them
ʾiitUxtawaʾuutú AhnoxtAhkaawaahUxúku iineetUhpakútkUx.
to steal songs when they used to (have) dance(s) where the old village was.
nikutišwačeehUxuúkuʾ.
That is what they used to say.

nuuxitUhčituúʾU noowiteeRAhkaahUxítIt piirátš wiitatshaánuʾ.
When the village was combined then they began to dance children Hidatsa.
atsú naraaNIhtšíčI noowitihnaasšta- ʾuúkUt.
But the older ones then they took up the way
– noowiteeRAhkaawaahUxítIt.
– Then they began to dance.
– noowitiinakánoʾ.
– Then they made a lodge.
witeekaNIhuúʾU akanaanataáʾuʾ wiitatshaánuʾ.
It was a large lodge an earth lodge Hidatsas
witoxtAh- kaawaahUxuúkuʾ akanaanataáʾuʾ wiitatshaánuʾ na káNIt
They used to dance (in) the lodge Hidatsas and Mandans,
sáhniš na sčiíri.
Arikaras and Pawnees.
witihwačeehUxuúkuʾ.
They used to say it.

noowitiwaákoʾ wiítA hukós paanaaNIskuúxuʾ.
Then he said the man Buffalo Bull's Paunch.
kuwitii- šAhneešaáʾA wiitatshaánuʾ.
That was their chief the Hidatsas.
waaxtóh nooNUsuxtaánuʾ.
"Now certainly let it be!
kaakunaahé niiNAxuhnaakaánu.
It is not good what you are doing.
na šineešuuxAhthará sáhniš šiNAxuuxAhtAharuhkoóčI wenaakuRAhkaáhu.
And you used to tease them the Arikaras your making fun of them when they were dancing.
nikuwetAxískaʾ aatootaánu.
Now that is what you want 'that I do.'
nooNUsuxtaánuʾ.
Let it be!"

číkuʾ kanawitiiNAtkoókuʾ.
They did not listen to him.
wekuwitUtkUxuhtaRAhtšúʾ AhnaaRAhkaáhu.
They were determined to do it their dancing.

na noowitiinákot neešaánuʾ wiitatshaánuʾ.
And then theirs died chief Hidatsa.
šoh- nuxčituúʾU – hukós paanaaNIskuúxuʾ– noowitIhunáhAs.
Their (du) having been together – Buffalo Bull's Paunch– then he died.

wah tinaákUx – kaakaʾ áskAt – nikuʾaataahneešaáNU wiitatshaánuʾ.
Now this – Crow Above – that one would be chief Hidatsa.
šikaneetehniniisuuxIsšwiʾúʾ kaakaʾ áskAt.
They must not have favored him Crow Above.
noowitiwáčiʾ – wah táWIt kooxuhnaánuʾ.
So they said – "Now three there will be
– na niiNUstAhka- wiítIt tišinaákUx pítkUx na
– And the one who is in the lead (over) these (du) two (others) and
nikunoo- niʾá – neešaánuʾ.
then that one will become – chief.
na – nikunooNUstáhkA.
And – then that one will be in the lead."

noowitiwáčiʾ nuukiišuxtaahnaáNAt kaakaʾ áskAt nii-
Then they said: "You go over there Crow Above those
šikooNAxinihnaaʾiíwoʾ kaakaʾ áskAt nakúʾU – neešaánuʾ – na
of you who favor it Crow Above to be – chief, – and
tuunakatAhkáʾU sčirí tiRAhčíš tiikištapaʾuuneéRIt.
on the other side Lean Wolf you all stand over here!"

wah – kaakaʾ áskAt – niišohniitAsšwiʾuúʾA uuwekuwitiči-
Now – Crow Above – the ones who favored him now they were
rúxkUx na sčirí tiRAhčíš uuwekuwitaNUhwaáRIt haáwaʾ.
in a bunch over there and Lean Wolf his stood over there also.
noowitihčitáWI.
Then they counted.
wah sčirí tiRAhčíš nikuwitanuu- naaNIhuúʾU niiwešohninihnaaʾiíwo
Now Lean Wolf that one had many the ones who had favored him,
niiʾAhnihWIskáʾA axkuraahneešaáNU.
the ones who wanted 'that you be our chief.'

noowitiNAhiihUhtáwihAt.
Then the water washed him off.
noowitunaačiteeʾá kaakaʾ áskAt na noowitiwaraahaána.
Then it became difficult for him Crow Above and then he became angry.
wah číkuʾ nuukunox- taáNAt.
"Now I will go away somewhere.
kaakAstawéstA tiihéʾ.
I am not going to be among (you) here."
noowititaawátAt wiitatshaánuʾ.
Then he separated (from them) the Hidatsas.
aniihéʾ waahuukaahaánuʾ anuunats- katAhkáʾU –
There Fort Buford there on the other side of the water –
nikuwituuxitúhkUx – wiitatshaánuʾ nihnaanéhku aahkawiRAhkatá.
that is where the village was – Hidatsa, the one called Yellowstone River (lit yellow bank).

wituxtaačeéʾA AhnuxtaanoótA.
It was a long while their living there.
kaakaʾ áskAt nikuwetiiNAhneešaáʾA.
Crow Above that one was their chief.
a noowiteeraawísaʾ naaxíhUx.
And then it arrived a sickness.
noowitiraanunuuwaáhAs.
Then they died.
hawá číkuʾ kaNAhunuuwaawikáʾIt AxkaáʾA NAhnunáhtš.
Also there were not many going around antelopes, deer.
noowitiraačitéʾ.
Then it was difficult.
noowewitiitaNA- sáʾUx kaakaʾ áskAt nuuxakiRAxaáhNA.
Then they were hungry, Crow Above the one they had as a leader.

nikUšitiisuxtehkUxuúkuʾ xóška.
They used to call that one Xoshka.
niinaataraʾoóhuʾ xóška.
They talked about it Xoshka.
wah tákuʾ kaakuhneesiíšuʾ niikohnaraaxaáʾA.
Now no one knows it whatever its meaning is.
atsú nihwačeehUxuúkuʾ kuwitiraaxaáʾA aahnoonakoótA tákuʾ  kanaNIhkutawiíšA.
But they used to say its meaning is 'just going off, no one stopping him (lit touching him).'
– aahnootíʾAt.
– He just goes.
– aahnoo- tíʾAt niinakuuwó.
– He just (gets up and) goes where he is going.
nikutišwaawačeehUxuúkuʾ niikohnaraaxaáʾA wiitatshaánuʾ.
That is what they used to say whatever its meaning is Hidatsa.
nootiraaʾiitUxčitéʾ.
It is a difficult word.
kaneetehnihneesiíšuʾ haáwaʾ kananiiraaNIhtšíčI tíNI tiweNAhunuuwaáWI.
They do not know (its meaning) also the younger ones today these who go around.
tsu napakuhtíčI naraaNIhtšíčI nikutehnišwačeehUxuúkuʾ
But the old ones, the older ones that is what they must have always said:
xóška naapakúhtuʾ AhnoonakoótA niinakoótA atsú tíʾAt.
"Xoshka long ago his just going where he goes but he goes."
hawá nikuwituh- naaʾúʾ.
Also that is the way (ie meaning).

hawá atípAt noowitiwaákoʾ Axtóh tíʾ naakuraána uunaraanoótA.
Also President then he said: "Surely they should come those others.
nikutiraateehuúʾU.
That is what is planned.
nikutAxtaNAhčítuuʾ.
You all are to be together."

noowitištaaʾiitUxkawáNIt aaxinaána.
Then word was sent 'that you (pl) come.'
kanawi- tihwískaʾ.
They did not want it.
na neešaánuʾ AhnatanuuNUxtaákUx tiihéʾ–
And the chief (ie agent) the one we had living here–
noowituutakaxtawíʾIš – xunáNIš – tiihéʾ– itUhtaáwe.
then he telegraphed them – soldier – here– Bismarck.
noowituhnaáNAt.
Then they went aggressively.
nooWIšiteeNAhnaʾá xóški.
Then they herded them back Xhoshkis.
piirátš witi- raanukawá haaNUhnaaNAsúx saapiraaniwóx tsu
Children they rode in them hay racks, wagons, but
naraaNIhtšíčI witaRAsatatáʾ niikohnuuxawé nuuwena-
the older ones they followed (on foot), however many days it was their coming
raána – wiitatshaáhkAt – niiwenuuxitúhkUx neešaánuʾ wenuuxitUhníkUx.
there – Elbowoods – where the village used to be, the chief where he had the village.

na nikunoowitiRAhwísAt.
And then that is where they arrived.
na nikunoowi- tiinitúnoʾ AhnoóčI xóška.
And then that is where they made the village the ones Xoshkas.

a tiwenatsuxkaákUx sápat wewitíʾ piiráʾuʾ.
And the woman who was my mother-in-law she was a baby.
weWIšitinóʾ 1894.
She was born 1894.

wah taanikutatuuxItkookUxuúkuʾ.
Now this is what I used to hear.

nuunaraanawáNA kaakeenunuusuxtaateékuʾ weNIhkuu- tAhnáʾIt xóška.
Those others they did not like it when they called them Xoshkas.
tíNI weneenunuhnaaʾiitUxtéʾ.
Today they like the word.
awít witišwaraahaanaanuuxuúkuʾ.
Formerly they used to get angry.
wah taanikutatuutItkookUxúʾ.
Now this is what I used to hear.

wah sáhniš číkuʾ AhnoošikaakuxtAxUhúnoʾ atípAt
Now Arikaras they never made war on it the government
šiništAxUhuhkaroóku atípAt.
their making wars on it the government.
waaxtóh kaaki- raáNIš Axtóh nootateeraačešwaahnúʾ AhnunaaʾiiwaátI.
Now certainly it is not true surely we are just lying, his telling stories.
áriišIt sanánat nikutíʾIt šiniišakawootíkA saNIštaaká
Themselves the Sioux they were the ones their killing them white men
niiháʾ– Fort Rice – nohniinaakitUhwirítkA.
there– Fort Rice – where they razed the village.
sáhniš číkuʾ AhnookaakUsuúsa.
Arikaras they never did anything.
weNAhkuraataraʾó naawinaaʾiíwat – witoonaawé sáhniš –
When they talk about them the paper (ie book) – it was written Arikaras –
kanawituu- NUxiwá.
they were not good.

nawáh nikunoowetiiraaʾiitúxAt.
Now then this is the extent of the story.